Switch mechanism



Aug 3, 1943.

WITNESSES:

G. CURRIE SWITCH MECHANISM Filed March 21, 1942 ATTOR Y i which:

Patented Aug. 3, 1943 anali swiTcHMncnAmsM- l Gabel-{Louia -Wnkinsburg ra.' assigneeV a,k

Westinghouse `Electric & Manufacturing Ccmy pany, East Pittsburgh, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania x.

. Application March 21, 1942, 10` claims', (cmi-sr) My invention relates, generally, "to switch mechanisms, and, more particularly, to1 quick make and breaklmechanisms for actuatingfthe contact membersA ofenclosed switches.

An object of my invention, generally stated, is to provide aA switch mechanism which shall be simple and ei'licientY in operation and which may be economically manufactured and installed'. T'

- A more. speciiiclobject of mylinvention is to ,provide a quick make and break. mechanism which shall maintain full pressureron the switch contact members upto the instant of operation.l Anotherobject ofmy invention is to provide a.' quick Vmakeandbreak mechanism which is 4compactin size; and-positive in operation. w 1

Otherv objects ,of my invention will .be explained fully hereinafter or will be apparent to `those skilledintheart.l

In accordance .with myinvention, a floating `cam: is so disposed in a pivoted frame which carries the` movable contact Vmembers of a lswitch that the frame is actuated about its pivot serial ne. 435,617

prises a pair of floating contact bars I5 and I5 disposed kto alternately bridge stationary contact members II and I8,'respectively. AThe bridging contact members I5 and I5 areldisposed ina' bracket I9 and separated by a spring 2|. A

.fqIn'` this manneran electrical circuit is estab lished through the contact members I'i when the switch is inl the position "shown in the drawing and a circuit is established through the contact members IfS when 'the'switchisoperated to cause thecOntactmembers I 5to bridge the contact members I8. j However, it should .be understood that the number and; arrangement of contact members may bevarieddn accordance with specific requirements; Y As shown, the contact members are* substantially enclosed by means of an insulatingho-usling 22, Vthereby protecting theswitchhousing point with a `snap action when the lclearance point of the cam: passes a iixed Vpin in the switch structure. The cam Yis biasedw'against the `iixed pin by ak spring that is mounted in the pivoted frame and may be actuated :by a crank `arm extending through the switch housingj` o For a fuller understanding of thenature and Vobjects of myinvention, reference may be had to the rfollowing detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing,` in

Figure f1 is a--xview,' partially":in\. section and .partially in iront elevation, of' a switch mecha- -nism embodying my invention; i

Fig. 2 is a View, partially :in `section'andpartially inside elevation; of the switchmechanislm and housing; ,1;

Fig. Sis :a view, partially inV section and'parz-v tially in front elevation, of a portionof thequick make andibreak mechanism;

, I Fig. lis a sectional view, taken alonglthe'iline IVf-,IV of Fig; 3, certain parts being broken awa-y for clearness, and

, Figs. 5 and 6 are views, in plan; andside ele- Vvation, respectively, of the yokel'for' retaining the biasing spring. 2

` Referring to the drawing,:and particularly to Fig.` 2, the switch structure shown therein comprises a housing I0 having 4awremovablecover,

IE! against any arcs that may be formed during the interruption'of the electricalcircuits. The bracket I `9 isY connected tot` an insulating member 22 which, inl turn, is vcarried'by anfarm 24 which is actuated bythe switch mechanism ina manner fully'described hereinafter;

The actuating mechanism I4 comprises'a stationary frameincludingi'a pairof spaced plates 25 and 2li separated by pins 21,28 and 29.` The plate I I at the irontiand a removable cover plate I2 at the rear thereof orenclosing a contact,V :assemblyv I3 and an actuating! mechanism I4.

As shown in Fig. 1, the contactassembl'y, I `3 complate25 is secured to the rear cover'platefIZ by a pair of screws 3l.' Amovable frame, comprisingplates 32 and $3 spaced apart by pins. 34

Yand 35,-is pivotally mounted between'the plates 25 andZG by means of screws 35 and 31 which extend through'the lplatesc; and 2li, respectively;A The'plate 32 is providedwith the 'upwardly` extending arm 2d which carries the insulating member 23k and the contact bracket i9,

Aas here'inbeforeV described. i A

`A floating cam 38 is disposed in the middle of this assembly'andgis biasedto the position shown byr a springiie.` Thecenter oi the4 cam is cut awayV to provide 'a space for the spring 39 C and the upper endE 'of 'the spring is retained by a yoke 4I pivotally mounted on the screws 3S and 3T between v the plates 32 and 33. 'The yoke GI is provided with oppositely disposed notches 42 for receiving the upper end ofthe cam plate38.

:As shown inA Fig. 3, the lower endof the spring 39' rests on the cam plate 3B, a projection d3 being provided for position;

retaining the spring lin As shown in Figs. .2 and 4, the cam plate'd-is disposed between shoulders M and i5 provided lon the pins 34 and 35, respectively, which ato'n gther with the. notches 42;'in they-oke (it guide themovement of theiioating cam 38; Asshcwn lspring e9 compressed .jas 'the na 'moves V'over-the. fix'ed pin `233.

in Fig. 3, the cam 38 is provided With a lpair of Y angularly disposed cam surfaces :it and 3l/for engaging the fixed pin 29 which is preferably provided With a roller 43 for reducing the fricl tion between the cam surfaces and the pin 29. The cam surf-aces l5 and 41 intersect at a point l i9 which Will hereinafter be referred to as'the lclearance point' oi .the cam.

The cam 38`is providedwith'a pair of shoulders 5I and 52 which engage the pins Stand respectively.

recesses or notches 53 and 54 vfor alternately re-Y` cell/ing the. pins 34 and 35i,respectively.` The l plate 32 is provided with'shoulders 55 and ''io'r alternately engaging the iixed pinsfE- Vand 23. y

' The cam'plate 38 is alsoprovi'ded With a pair of spaced arms 51 and 53 which are alternately` engaged by a pin 59 disposed on acranlsar'rnt! mounted Yon the inside end'of a shaft 62 that extends through the housing Iii. A ci"anl:arm 63 may -be' adjustably :mounted ion the outside len'dfof'the'shaft Sby. means-lor" afbolt '@Ll and moiintingiplates Se .and '65 having serrated` .sur- :facesforadjustably positioning 'the crank :arm

` 63, A roller dEil is vmountedfat theend of :the

A crank farm' 163i v`by -means .of fa :pin '58.'

understood :that the: crankzarm rnaybeman- Y Iually'operated ornithe ferent -thatit fis idesired It will be toilntilizeV the fswitch .as :aliinit-fsvfitch fior icone` therebyixreturning. the vsvi/.itch mechanism and contact members .'.to the `.position shown. :Pis

spaced apartffanddisposed lto iengage. a'zpn f7.2

Jxed inizh'e :housing lezende pints -nfiountecll zinthe'crank arm I; ".Inthislmanner. vtension is @applied to thespringV 1i! nv'henthepranlr farm'f, actuatedzin'fone-direction; thereby' causing the -arm toiberreturne' .'to `the position :showniwhen released.Y Y. Y. 'i

-Reierrlingrto Egs. vf1 tand 3, 'itfwillrberseen that if-'the pinre is actuated :into A:'engagernent with the inside oizthe larni 15.8, 'the 'Team mill .'-be rotated abouttne'pin 34 as afuljcrur'n and-the l crib-edilizi .my copending application, '.Serlalblh. 'S'IGAlS, oiled .January 529,.'1941ythe recess' n3" prevents Y fcreepageio'fthe A"pinna alongithe'camlsurrace '6.5,

thereby retaining' full .fpressurezon fthe :switch f'c'ontact members iurtil the .Lcl-earance'point En passespver fthe 1 center of "thepin 25B', :at which rtime `the'fspring 39 'causes Yt'heswitc'h 4.mechanism to snap quickly. into 'its alternate position-Whereyin theicam surface'engagesztheipin 2%landthe shoulderi' of the' Iplate fengagesithe'fixed pin 21.. At this tim-ofthe pin 135 is forced :into the "recess 54 "in -a .manner similar :to fthe positioning or ther/pin saV in the recess 513, :asse-ewa.

Thus, the switch'contact members aregquiclfly Vactuatedirorn theV onelposition'to the other and AWillfbe"retained in that'rposition until pressure -isapplied on itheinside ofthe'arni 5l to operate "the switch'Y mechanism in fthe manner described fto 'return thejcontact.memberswto vthe aposition .f f

The cam` 38 is also provided Withf f shown.` 'It will be seen. that the pins 2 and 28 function as stops to limit the travel of the movable plate 32,' and, consequently, the travel of the switch contact members'.

From the foregoing description. it is apparent thatl have provided a quick make andrbreak mechanism which is compact in size, positive in operation and which 'maintains jcontact pressure on'the switch members until the instant of oper ation of .the snapover mechanism. it is also 'apparent that themechanism herein described gmaywbe `mounted inside of an enclosure and op- ;.erated by mear-s located externally of the enclosure-thereby providing a switch Which may fbe'completely enclosed from dirt and other for- Since' numerous changes may be made in the 'above V'described :construction and diierent em# bodiments of the invention may be made With- "out'departing from the spirit and scope thereof,

fit-is intendedthat `all matter contained in the y lioregoing description or :shown in 'the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illusl trated andfnot-in a limiting sense.

'Ifclaim fas .my-invention: 1'

l-.nswitch actuating'me'chanismfcomprising a supporewa 5trarne.fpivotally mounted on the support and .having a 'switch actuating-arm, a

nplnra-lityof. operatingV pins :mountedin-itheframe,

'--afii'xed pin, fa vfloating carn member having tWo angularly-.disposed cam surfaces Ifor `alternately ."engagincr theii-Xed goin, shoulders vcn thelcam v-membeixfor -engaging said operating pins, a e spring .-,forfbiasing the cani 'surfacesiagainst the fixed Vpimiaiirlmeans 'for operating .the cam-Joy overcoming the biasing :action ofthefspring.'

.2. ,A .switch actuating :mechanism 'comprising a support, a frame pivtally'nliurrted c'n`the isupportiand iliaving a switch actuating arm, a

...lpluralityfof .operating vpinsmrxintelin 'tlie'iianie .sa 'iixefl'gpiny 1a #floatingcamV member having 'ltwo fangularlyeiiisposed fcamsiuffaces if or alternately :engaging 1 :member for 'engaging said `operating./pin's, ia

ne nXed rsnoulders on 'the 'earn yspring `V`disposed in' saiiviframeor; biasing tlie'cam surfaces against :thelixedv Spin, 4and 'means 'lio-r operating 'themani :overcoming theA biasing action of thefspring.

. l 3.1i 'switch actuating' mechanism comprising a fsupport, afzframe pivot'ally mounted .on the .support andh'aving aiswi'tch actuating Larln, a plurality'of operatingpins mounted inthelframe, a fixed pin, a floating cam member havingtw'o ngularlysdisposed .earn surfaces forialternately member.. .for Vengaging said operating pins, a spring for'fliiasing'thetcam surfaces against'the -:@Xecbpin,'aLyelefpivotlly'mounted said trarne for retaining said spring, and meansfforoperat- --Go ingthe :camxbyfiovercoming the biasing action of 'fthe spring: Y l f Y 4. A switch actuating .'mechanismc'omprising a support.. a iframe. pivotallymountedon the 'sup- :port and "havin-g' :a switch.4 actuating army a plurality of operating pins .niounte'dinifthelframe, affixed pin, afloating .cam frnemberha'ving two ,flangularly-dispo'sed 'cam :surfaces 'for .alternately engaging the fixed pin, shoulders '-onthe'gcam :member :for engagingsaidoiperating plns,a spring rer 4:biasing the camsurfaces against the fixed v.pln',.-.an'd .means having: a'lost-motion.connection v ital-,lie camfrnemherffor .operating fit '.by i overcomjin'g .the biasingiactionr of the spring.

.A 5. sA 'switch actuating :mechanism comprising a support, :airarneizpicotally mounted fon the engaging the. fixed pin', `s'ht'nulders on fthe camV support and having a switch actuating arm, a plurality of operating pins mounted in the frame, a fixed pin, a floating cam member having two angularly-disposed cam surfaces for alternately engaging the fixed pin, shoulders on the cam member for engaging said operating pins, a spring for biasing the cam surfaces against the fixed pin, and rotatable means having a lost-motion connection to the cam member for operating it by overcoming the biasing -action of the spring;

6. A switch actuating mechanism comprising a support, a frame pivotally mounted on` the support and having a switch actuating arm, a pair of operating pins mounted in the frame, a xed pin, a floating cam member having two angularly-disposed cam surfaces for alternately engaging the fixed pin, shoulders on the cam member for engaging said operating pins, a spring for biasing rthe cam surfaces against the fixed pin, a pair of spaced arms on the cam member, and means for alternately engaging said arms to operate the cam by overcoming the biasing` action of the spring.

7. A switch actuating mechanism comprising la support, a frame pivotally mounted on the support and having a switch actuating arm, a pair of operating pins mounted inthe frame, a fixed pin, a floating cam member having two angularly-disposed cam surfaces for alternately engaging the fixed pin, shoulders on the cam member for engaging said operating pins, said cam member having recesses therein for alternately receiving the operating pins, a spring for biasing the cam surfaces :against the xed pin,

' and means for operating the cam by overcoming the biasing action of the spring. Y

8. A switch actuating mechanism comprising a support, a frame pivotally mounted on the support and having a switch actuating arm, a pair of operating pins mounted in the frame, each of said operating pins having a pair of spaced shoulders thereon, a xed pin,.a floating ycam member disposed between the shoulders on the operating pins and having two angularlydisposed cam surfaces for alternately engaging the fixed pin, a shoulder on the cam member for engaging each of said operating pins, a spring disposed in said frame for biasing the cam surfaces against the fixed pin, and means for operating the cam by overcoming the biasing action of the spring.

v 9. A switch -actuating mechanism comp ising a support, a frame pivotally mounted on the support and having a switch actuating arm, a pair of operating pins mounted in the frame, each of said operating pins having -a pair of spaced shoulders thereon, a fixed pin, a floating cam member disposed between the shoulders on the operating pins and having two angularlydisposed cam surfaces for alternately engaging the fixed pin, a shoulder on the cam member for engaging each of said operating pins, said cam member having recesses therein for alternately receiving the operating pins, a spring for biasing the cam surf-aces lagainst the fixed pin,

Y and means for operating the cam by overcoming the biasing action of the spring.

10. A switch actuating mechanism comprising a support, a frame pivotally mounted on the support and having a switch actuating arm, -a pair of operating pins mounted in the frame, each of said operating pins having a pair of spaced shoulders thereon, a fixed pin, a floating cam member disposed between the shoulders on the operating pins and having two angularlydisposed cam surfaces for alternately engaging the xed pin, a shoulder on the cam member for engaging each of said operating pins, said cam member having recesses therein for alternately receiving the operating pins, a spring for biasing the cam surf-aces against the fixed pin, a pair of spaced arms on the cam member, and means for alternately engaging said arms to operate the cam by overcoming the biasing action of the spring., Y

GILBERT CURRIE. 

